Rack structure



July 2s, 1959 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 D. J. MCINTOSH ET AL RACK STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

July 28, 1959 D. J. MClN-rosH ET AL 2,395,799

RACK STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR` DGA/ALD .J. Mc /NrosH c5: Foefer W. CPAN:

Y M,WR47ZJM ArroP/VEKS.

July 28, 1959 [Q J, MclNTOsH ET AL 2,896,799

RACK STRUCTURE Fiied Dec. 15,4 1955 s sheets-sheet s INVENTORS DONALD J. Mc/NTosH @oec-er W CRANE ATTORNEYS v United States' Pate-nt O RACK STRUCTURE Donald J. McIntosh and Robert W. Crane, Detroit, Mich., assignors to McIntosh Stamping Corporatlon, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 15, 1955, Serial No. 553,267

17 Claims. (Cl. 21a-10.5)

This invention relates to a rack facilitating the storing of containers in stacked relation.

The invention can be used for stacking various kinds of pallets, crates, boxes and the like. An exemplary application is in stackingboxes of a type used for temporarily storing, handling andl shipping industrial scrap metal. These boxes are lightly constructed for economical reasons and are not strong enough to support one another in stacked relation vwhen :filled with scrap metal. Still, it is desirable to Vstack they boxesl to save lioor space in a storage area or in a vehicle.

An object of this invention is to provide asimple, inexpensive rack structure enabling such containers to be stacked off-one another and which can be rapidly and conveniently erected and dismantled to form stacks of various numbers of boxes.

The invention generally contemplates a pair of upri-ghts formed of detachable sections spaced yapart by detachable cross bars. The Iuprights extend adjacent the sides of the stack boxes, and the cross barsare'va-rranged to support the central portions only of the boxes so that edge portions thereof engage each other to provide fric- I tional lateral stability for the stack. One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective 'View of a rack according to this invention in use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective rView of a cross bar component l separate from the rest of the Irack structure.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an rupright component separate from the rest of the rackY structure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, 'generallyv elevational view illustrating engagement of the rack components with parts Abroken away and parts shown in phantomto illustrate structure.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view the rack structure.

Fig. 6 is a generally diagrammatic side ,elevation illustrating a box Iand rack structure carried bya lift truck.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged,v fragmentary, partly diagrammatic 'view illustrating the relation between a box, a rack, and lift-truck fork. v

Shown in Fig. 1 is a group of boxes 10 supported in stacked relation by a rack 11 constructed according to this invention. The rack ,structureI includes a number of preferably identical upright sections 12 (Fig. 3) having a pair of legs 13 secured in paralleLspaced-apart relation by rungs 14 and 15 welded thereto as at 16. 'Each leg has a lower end portion 18 and has a lug 19 welded thereto adjacent its upper end 20. Lower rung 15 has end portions 21 extending laterally outwardly of legs 1 3 for a purpose to be described.

The rack structure also includes a 'number of preferably identical horizontal support-s 25 each having a cross bar 26 with Ia tubular perpendicular sleeve 27 at each end. Sleeves 27 have open top, ends 28 and open lower ends 29 and are dimensioned to t slidably around the of a boxv separate Afrom l end portions of upright legs 13. The length of sleeves -19 of the upper rack tier.

ice

2 27 is preferably aboutA twice the length of upper portions 20 of legs 13 above lugs 19.

- Each box 10 has sides 32 formed of a relatively lightweight material such as tin, wooden sheathing and is shown as being reinforced by Wire bands 33. ABox 10 has a top 34 and a bottom 35 which is normally supported by a number of blocks or feet 36 which in turn rest on parallel skids 37. Legs 13 of the upright members have the same height as boxes 10.

To form a stack of boxes 10,' one box is positioned on the floor of a vehicle or storage space at the location where the stackis to be erected. A pair of upright sections 12 fare positioned adjacentopposite sides of the box, and a pair of supports 25 are secured across the top of the box by sliding lower ends 29 of sleeves 27 over upperends 2,0 of legs 13 so that the lower sleeve endsl rest in yload-bearing relation on lugs 19. A second box 10 is stacked on the first box 'with its bottom 35 resting on cross bars 26. The top of the cross bar is spaced above the top 34 of the lower box so that skids 37 of the upper box contact top 34 of the lower box.' The weight of the upper boxv on cross bars 26 is transmitted to legs 13 of the upri-ght section through sleeves 27 and lugs 19.

A second rack tier is erected on the first by inserting lower ends 18 of the legs of a second pair of ruprights into open upper ends 28 of sleeves 27 so that they Aabut in load-bearing relation against upper ends 20 of the lower set of legs 13. A second tier of cross bars 26 is attached to the uprights and a third box 10 may be stacked on the lower boxes yby positioning it on the second tier of cross bars 26 in the manner described. The Weight of this box is transmitted to the column of vertically abutted legs 13 through thesleeves 27 and lugs Additional boxes may be placed on the stack by erecting additional tiers of rack sections and positioning boxes thereon as described.

.Cross bars 26 straddle the central row of feet 36 and support only a generally cent-ral portion of box 10. When the boxes in a stack are loaded, their unsupported side portions tend to sag 4and bear upon the ltop of the next lower box in the stack. Each box provides partial support for the boxes above it. Thefrictional engagement of skids 37 against subjacent box tops 34 provides Iadequate lateral stability for a stack of boxes. The central, partial support provided by the rack structure enables a number of relatively weak, heavily loaded boxes to be stacked upon one another, where without such support the lower boxes would collapse.

A stack of boxesl and the rack structure may be partly or completely dismantled by merely lifting boxes off of the'top of a stack and disengaging upper and lower end portions 18 and 2'0 of the upright legs from sleeves 27 on the cross members. The rack is constructed to facili- Vtate forming and dismantling of stacks of boxes by the use of lift' trucks 40 as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Truck 40 has forks 41 which can be elevated and lowered .on an element 42, 'the forks being spaced apart to straddle the inner row of feed 36 of a box.' When the forks are Ainserted in the vertical space between two boxes and spaced relation but also form a ladder which may be safely climbed for inspection of thecontents of the boxes and the like. The rungs in anrerected rackY are-generally l equally verticallyspaced. sections 12 yand cross 3: members 25 arerelativelyl flat-y so thattheycanbe conveniently stored when not in use. The respective elements are identical to facilitate inexpensivemanutacture and are formed preferably ofmetaltubng 'sothat they are lightweight and easy toliandle. v

, Theliiiveiltitnv facilitatesv formingA stacks of? boxesYY at any' dsiedf location Without the necessity oflleayingl space' consuming aislewaybetween stacks-*t6 facilitate subsequent' handling ofthe b`oxes. The rack structure canbe erected and-dismantled with` very little more effort? andV timelthan is required to stack boxes'themselves.

We claim:

1.Airack-structre facilitating the stackingof holders for storing materials, said rackstructurel comprising, up-Y right` supportV means, lateral support meanslsecured to said upright' support means; in load-bearing relation so that verticalload imposedonv said'-lateral support means is transmitted Yto andv supp'o'rted by said' upright support meanasaidupright support? means being arranged to be positionedadjacentV a holder with which` said rack is adapted to be used with said lateral support means extending'iover the top of the holder, said'lateral-support means being adapted Yto engage and provide vertical support fora portion vof the bottom of a -like holder placed in stackedVv relation over the irst *holderl while leaving other portions thereofunsupported,vv said lateral support means being vertically positioned on said upright support means so that the' unsupported bottom portion of the upper holder engages'upper'portions oflthe lower holder, whereby to Yprovide frictional lateral stability for the stackof holders.` 'Y

2.TA rack structure facilitating the stacking of containers having generally form retaining walls adequate to contain Vgoods but vinadequate of'themselves to resist bucklingV under the weight of other loaded containers stacked thereon, said rack structure comprising, a plurality of upright members, a cross member secured to said.: upright members in load-bearing relation, said upright members being-arranged toi be positioned upright generally adjacent opposite walls ofral container with Whichsaid rack is adapted to berusedwith said cross member extending over the top of thecontainer at a location spaced from edge' portions of theV container, said cross? member beingadapted to supportingly engage a portion of the bottom ofa like container placed in stacked relation overthe' first container, said cross memlso thatunsupported'bottom portions of the uppertcontainer engage upper portions of the lower container Wherebyvto provide frictional lateral stability for the stack of containers.` i

3. A rack structure. facilitating the stacking of containers having generally form retaining walls adequate to contain goods but inadequate of themselves to resist buckling under the weight of other loaded containers stacked thereon, said rack structure comprising a plurality of upright membersa plurality of cross members, each upright member including a plurality of column elements and means securing the column elements in generally parallel, spaced apart relation, attachment means detachably securing a cross member to each of said column elements in load-bearing relation, said column elements being adapted to be positioned upright generally adjacent opposite side walls of a container with which said rack is adapted to be used and to support said cross members above the containenveach of said cross membersbeing adapted to supportingly engage a like container placed in stacked relation over the rst container, the width across said cross members being relatively smaller than the width of the container with which said rack is adapted to be used so that a cross'member supports a; generally central portion of' anV uppercontainer leaving edge portions thereof unsupported, said cross members being vertically positionedon said upright members so that the unsupported edge portions of an 4 l upperY containerengage upper-,portions of a lower container to provide frictional lateral stability for a stack of containers, said attachment means detachably securing the column elements of certain of said upright members together in vertical load-transmitting relation, whereby to form racks for partially supporting stacks of selected numbers of containers.

4. A rack structure facilitating the stacking of con tainers having generally form retaining walls adequate to contain goodsbut inadequate of themselves to resist buckling under the weight of other loaded containers stacked thereon, said rack structure comprising, a plurality of'upright members, a` plurality of cross members, each upright member including a plurality of column elements, said column elements in each upright member being secured in generally parallel, spaced apart relation by rung means, attachment means detachably securing across member to each of said column elements in loadf bearing relation, saidl column elements being adapted to be positionedVV upright generallyadjacent opposite side walls of va containerwith which said rack is adapted to be used and'to support said crossmembers above the container, 'each ot'V said cross` members being adapted to supportingly lengage a like containerplac'ed in stacked relation over the rst container, the width racross said cross-members being` relatively smaller lthan the width ofthe containers with 'which said rack is adapted to be used so that a cross memberfsupports Ygenerally the central portion? of an upper'container leaving edge portions thereof unsupported, said cross members being vertically positioned on said upright members so that the unsupported edge portions of an upper container engage upper portions of a lower container to providefrictional lateral stability'for al stack ofrcontainers, said attachment means detachably securing' the column elements of certain of said-upright members together' with said column elements thereofinverticalV abutment,whereby to form racks for partially supporting stacks ofr selected members of containers, said rung means cooperating to form ladder `means to facilitatefclimbing a stack for inspection pur- `uprightl member including a pair of column elements secured inlgenerallyl parallel, spaced apart relation by vspacedapart rungs,,attachment means detachably securing the end portions of two of said cross bars tothe top portions of the' column elements of two ofsaid upright members, said cross bars extending generally parallel' to. each other andv being in load-bearingV relation with said .uprightmembers, said column elements being adapted to support said cross bars above a container With which said. rack'. is adapted to be usedY and being spaced apart by said cross bars for extending upright .generally adjacent oppositeV sidewalls of the container, said cross barsnb'eingfadapted to supportingly engage a like containerY placed in stacked relation over thev first container, the distance between Vsaid-lcross bars being relatively smaller than the 1 width of thejpcontainers so that said cross. bars support` a generally central portion of a container Vleaving' edge portions' thereof` unsupported, said cross. bars' being vertically positioned on said column elements so that tle'unsupported portions of a container `engage upper portions of, a lower container to provide frictional lateral stability for astack'of containers, said attachment means detachably securing the columnv ele- `ments ofY certain of said upright members together with said column elements in 'verticall abutment, whereby to sslassures ladders' on opposite sides of a stack to facilitate climbing thereof for inspection purposes and the like.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said attachment means includes a tubular element at each end of said cross bar, said tubular element engaging vertically abutted column elements for securing them together, each column element having a-projection thereon supporting said tubular element and a load thereon.

7. Structure for storing items comprising, a plurality of holders for items to be stored, load-bearing upright means adapted to rest on a supporting surface, a plurality of vertically spaced lateral members secured to said upright means in load-bearing relation so that vertical load imposed on said lateral members is transmitted to and supported by said upright means, said holders being arranged to be selectively placed on said lateral members and on a supporting surface beneath the lower of said lateral members, said lateral members being constructed and arranged to engage and provide vertical support for a predetermined portion of the bottom of a holder placed thereon while leaving other portions of the holder unsupported, each holder engaging an adjacent holder in a stack at said unsupported portions whereby to provide frictional lateral stability for a stack of holders.

8. A device for storing items comprising, a plurality of generally form retaining holders for items to be stored, a plurality of load-bearing upright members adapted to rest on a supporting surface, each upright member being formed of a plurality of detachable sections, a plurality of cross members, means detachably securing said cross,

members to said upright members at the junctures of said sections, means 4on said holders forming supporting feet, said holders being arranged to be selectively placed on said cross members with said cross members extending between said feet, said holders being also arranged to be placed beneath the lower of said cross members with said feet resting on a supporting surface, said cross members being constructed and arranged to supportingly engage a generally central portion of a holder placed thereon leaving other portions of the holder unsupported, said feet being disposed at said unsupported portions and engaging an adjacent holder in a stack to provide frictional lateral stability for a stack of holders.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the height of each of said sections is substantially the same as the height of each of said holders.

l0. Structure for storing items comprising, a plurality of generally form retaining holders for items to be stored, a plurality of upright sections, said sections including a pair of column elementssecured in generally parallel spaced apart relation by a plurality of rung elements, a plrurality of cross bars, means detachably securing said sections together with said column elements in vertical abutment to form a plurality of load-bearing uprights', said Imeans detachably securing said cross bars to said uprights at the junctures orf said column elements, said uprights being arranged and constructed to rest on a supporting surface adjacent side portions of a holder element also resting onthe supporting surface with some of said cross bars extending over the top off said holder, said holders being arranged to be selectively placed on said cross bars, said cross bars being constructed and arranged to supportingly engage a generally central portion of the bottom of a holder placed thereon leaving edge portions of said holder unsupported, downwardly projecting means forming feet on each holder engaging the next lower holder in a stack whereby to provide frictional lateral stability for a stack of holders, said rungs cooperating to form ladders at the sides of a stack to facilitate climbing the stack for inspection purposes and the like.

1l. Structure for storing items comprising a plurality of generally .fform retaining holders for items to be stored, a plurality of upright sections, said sections including a pair of column elements secured in generally parallel spaced apart relation by a plurality of rungelements, ra plurality of cross bars, each cross bar having at each end a sleeve element extending generally perpendicularly thereto, each sleeve element being open at both ends, said sleeve elements slidably' detachably engaging the top portions of some of said column elements, each of said sleeve elements slidably detachably engaging the bottom end portions of the other of said column elements to secure said sections together with the column elements thereof vertically abutted to form a plurality of spaced apart load-bearing uprights, said uprights being arranged and constructed to rest on a supporting surface adjacent side portions of a holderv element also resting on the supporting surface with some of said cross bars extending over the top of said holder, said holders being arranged to be selectively placed on said .cross bars, saidpcross bars being constructed and arranged to supportingly engage a generally central portion of the bottom orf a holder placed thereon leaving edge portions of said holder uusupported, downwardly projecting means forming feet on each holder engaging the next lower holder in a `stack whereby to provide frictional lateral stability [for a stack 'adapted for engagement by lifting elements inserted beneath a support so that when a support is lifted olf a stack the corresponding cross bars and upright sections are lifted with it.

13. Structure for storing items comprising, a plurality of holders -for items to be stored, means providing a plurality of generally horizontally extending members spaced vertically in load bearing relation on upright support means so that vertical load imposed on said members is transmitted to and supported by said rupright support means, said holders being arranged to be placed on said members one above the other, said members being constructed `andarranged to `engage and provide vertical support for -a portion of a holder placed thereon while leaving other portions of the holder unsupported, each holder engaging an adjacent holder at said unsupported portions whereby to provide lateral stability for a stack of holders.

14. Structure for storinig items comprising, a plurality of holders for items to be stored, a plurality of load bearing upright members adapted to rest on a supporting surface, a plurality of vertically spaced load bearing cross mem-bers extending between said upright members so that vertical load imposed on said cross members is transmitted to and'supported by said upright members, said holders being arranged to be placed selectively on the supporting surface and said cross members one above the other to form a stack, said cross members being constructed and arranged to engage and provide vertical support for a portion of a holder placed thereon while leaving other portions of the holders unsupported, each holder engaging an adjacent holder in a stack at said unsupported portions whereby to provide lateral stability for a stack of said holders. l

15. A method of storing goods which comprises, providing a plurality of containers having generally form retaining walls adequate to contain goods but inadequate of themselves to resist buckling under the weight of other containers in loaded condition stacked thereon, placing the goods in said containers, arranging said containers one above the other in a stack, providing vertical support for portions of said containers and leaving other portions thereof unsupported, and leaving the unsupported portions of adjacent containers in the stack free to interengage to provide lateral stability for the stack.

16. A method of storing goods which comprises, pr0- viding a plurality of containers having generally form retaining Walls adequate to contain goods but inadequate of themselves to resist buckling under the Weight of other containers in loaded condition stacked thereon, placing the goods in said containers, arranging said containers one above the other in a stack,y providing Vertical support for central portions of said containers and leaving edge portions thereof unsupported, and leaving the unsupported edge portions of adjacent containers in the stack free to interengage to provide lateral stability for the stack.

17. Structure for storing items comprising, a plurality of containers for the items to be stored, each container having a bottom Wall and side Walls, said side walls being adequate to contain said items but being inadequate of themselves to resist buckling under the weight of other containers in loaded condition stacked thereon, and a rack structure facilitating the stacking of said containers 'which includes upright support means, lateral support means secured to said upright support means in load bearing relation so that vertical load imposed on said lateral support means is transmitted to and supported by said upright support means, said containers being positionabl'e adjacent said upright support'means Ywith said lateral support means extending over the top ofssaid container', saidV laterali support means being adapted tofengage and provide vertical support for 'a portionof the bottom of a like container placed in'stacked relation over the rst mentioned container While leaving other` portionsl 'thereof unsupported, saidlateral support vmeans be#` ing vertically positioned on lsaid upright support means so thatVV the unsupported? bottom portion of the lupper container engages upper portions'of' the lower container, whereby to provide frictional lateral stability for the stack ofrcontainers.

References Cited in theile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,577,823 Dolle Mar. 23, 1926 1,771,264 Marrits JulyY 22, 1930 2,246,448 Mahan June 17, 1941 2,739,848 Jagiel Mar. 27,1956 2,765,087 Weinbatun Oct. 2, 1956 2,774,490 Strong Dec. 18, 1956 

